Back Door Entryway

Our back door entryway is right off of the kitchen.  Here's what it looked like when we first moved in.

The first little update we did was to add bamboo paneling.  (The post on this DIY project can be found here.)  We had ceiling damage and instead of tackling the daunting task of skim-coating the plaster, we decided to just cover it up.

Then we decided to add some board and batten to the walls to add some visual appeal.  But it could also be very functional by adding hooks for coats and bags.  Here's a look at the start of the project when we were working on our kitchen re-do.

And finally, here is the reveal.

We added the board and batten, hooks from Ikea, and carried the same paint colors from the kitchen.

We also replaced the original door with this full glass door.  It adds so much light to this previously dark nook.

This is the best look- functionality for little backpacks :)

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Kitchen Featured on Remodelaholic

 Today my kitchen makeover is being featured by Remodelaholic.  Hop on over to read all about the process and to see more kitchens with two-tone cabinets.

DIY Kitchen Redo

I have been absent from blogging for way too long!  But I'm back with an awesome project.  My husband had the summer off from school and on day one he began demo on our kitchen.

This is what our kitchen used to look like.

The cabinets, countertops and floor were all the same orangey-brown.

And now looking back, it was so dark.

Our plan was to replace the countertops and floor but to keep the cabinets and paint them.  So in preparation, we disassembled the cabinets and trim and labeled each piece.

Next up, we did lots of sanding and de-glossing.

We put up a plastic curtain to try to keep the dust out of the rest of the house...but that dust somehow finds its way everywhere!

And after many weeks of hard work here is the BEAUTIFUL after!  So bright and clean looking.

We decided to have hardwood floors put in to warm up the room and look more cohesive with the rest of the house.  And being in a kitchen, the floors have an extra layer of polyurethane.

I really loved the look of two toned cabinets so we went with a white for the uppers and a blue/gray for the lowers.

 I especially love our full wall of tile.  It really sparkles at night  :)

We replaced the original glass with seedy glass to give it a little more texture and dimension.

And since we have so much pattern with the tiled wall/backsplash we decided to go with a solid color Corian countertop.

Here's a look at the breakfast bar leading into the dining room.

The breakfast nook is so inviting now.

I found these two chairs on Craigslist for only $60.  I just had to reupholster the seats.

I already had this bench cushion made a few years ago...

...and then found this fabric at JoAnn's.  I think it matches perfectly!

This view shows our new back door and our final project of adding batten board to the back hallway.  All it needs is some paint and coat hooks.

I love the look of our integrated sink.  No seams!

As for the cabinet paint, we went with a satin finish and used 2-3 coats on top of a primer layer.  It was a long process but a necessary one to withstand its constant use.

The upper cabinet color is Muslin White by Glidden and the bottom color is Pencil Point by Behr.

I'm in love!

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Guest Bedroom & Closet Re-do

This is our guest bedroom closet...

We removed the weird shelving that was in there when we purchased the home and repainted the walls.

After some Ikea closet pieces, here is the after...

At Ikea, you can design and piece together your own closet configuration.  First you decided where you want shelves and where you want hanging space.

Then you pick out the size of shelf/hanging brackets.

Now I have lots of space for my purses, overnight bags and overflow from my own closet.

And this is what the guest bedroom looked like when we first moved in...

After some new paint, trim color, and accessories, this is what the room currently looks like...

The look of the room all started with this vintage light I found at antique store.

Shortly after that, I found this classroom map at an antique mall for just $50.

This is my husband's grandma's dresser that she gave to us.  I painted it a fun kelly green to match the light pendent.

I added new hardware from Home Depot.

My mom found a pair of these chairs at an estate sale for just $30!  I took one and my sister took the other.  There may be plans to re-upholster it in the far future but for now it brings out the oranges in the map.

My husband just started law school and currently studies in this room.  I have plans to find a secretary desk to put in place of the bookcase on the right.  That way my husband has a writing surface and storage for his books.  But can still be hidden when guests come to stay.

I held out for a long time to find the perfect accent pillows.  I think these Home Goods pillows do the trick.  The have the same blues and greens and the ikat pattern seems blend in perfectly.

There's still work to be done in this room (finding a secretary desk, rug and wall art) but for now I'm loving the bright colors during these cold, wintery days.

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